Hifai Chiropractic

After filling out 20 minutes of needless paperwork, I was adjusted, only to get worse the next day and end up in Urgent Care with a pinched nerve — pain in my neck, shoulders and running down my arm. This place has all the bells and whistles — aqua bed, traction-​like movement bed, heating pad, etc, but what it lacks it the skills of an experienced, knowledgeable chiropractor. I have scoliosis and have gone to chiropractors for years. I would never recommend this one!

I started coming here through my mom, who sees Dr Hifai for adjustments and also gets massages with Elisa. My mom was always ranting and raving about them, the pricing was affordable, and they were offering a promotion that I just couldn’t pass up!
I purchased 4 massages at a discounted rate via the promotion, and started to see Elisa, the massage therapist. I love her and loved her massage and I haven’t stopped going since! I am now a part of the rub club, so I count on my regular monthly massages, and then I still partake in their promotional events to add a few additional massages to my monthly massages, as a special treat. :)
Elisa does an awesome job with the massages. She is really good about applying the pressure you’re looking for, and listening to your needs/​trouble spots. I feel totally comfortable with her and I think that is so important.
I also find it easy to schedule and book an appointment. The trick is kind of picking a day and time that works best with your schedule, and sticking to that. Then, after every appointment, I just make sure to schedule the next month’s appointment then. Because they can book up pretty quick, and if you don’t have a flexible schedule, they may not be able to accommodate your time last minute.
I will say that I agree with one of the reviewers below who thought it annoying that we had to fill out the online survey about our pain and the location of the spots that it’s in. They seem to make a really big deal about it, and I find it unnecessary for myself. If I don’t fill it in, the receptionist will make me. I feel awkward doing it and I just make it up every time. I am going for maintenance and a relaxing time; I have a relationship with the massage therapist so I’m pretty sure I can tell her where my trouble spots are. That being said, when I fill it out online, it isn’t even accurate because I don’t even really know what to do!
I recommend coming here, and even though I personally can only speak to Elisa and the massages, the whole practice seems to be professional, and filled with kind and nice people. I highly recommend!

Wow!!! This place is fabulous. Not only is the staff friendly but the facility is wonderful. Ive been going there for years and have recommended friends and family. This place is a must try.

OMG, there’s something so wrong here. I went to Dr. Hifai based on a friend’s recommendation, when my GOOD chiropractor left town. Dr. Hifai seems like she knows what she’s talking about, chiropractically speaking. Her waiting room is beautiful, but it kind of ends there. She has these really weird adjustment tables that don’t even articulate — seems necessary for a full assessment/​adjustment. Before your adjustment, you are treated to 3 tables in the back — a massaging water table, a roller table, and the last with the TENS unit. It’s great that all 3 are usually a part of your adjustment, but if they overbook and they can’t squeeze you in on all 3 tables, I think they still charge your insurance for all of them.
Dr. Hifai makes you rate your pain on a scale of 1 – 10 every single time you are there. Which may be a useful tool for her to assess your progress, but if you have a chronic back problem, it’s not all pain all the time, so it’s a little annoying, There was one visit when I told her I had zero pain, and she made me sign a paper stating such. FREAKY!!! I didn’t have to sign off on my pain level at any other time. She also makes a point to ask very specific questions about your weekend on every visit, which I found to be very intrusive. I could never just get an adjustment and get out. There also seems to be something wrong with her — she acts pleasant, but she looks as if someone were to say the wrong thing to her, she’s going to explode and go totally postal.
You should also know that Dr. Hifai is not in the healing business, she’s in the money business. Every time I was there she tried to sell me something. It may be something small like repackaged and marked-​up Epsom salts, but one time she pushed me into signing up for her «Rub Club» massage membership. Previously, I got massages when I needed them. In the Rub Club, you have to sign up for massages at set intervals and they automatically charge your credit card. The disadvantage was that if you didn’t sign up, there were no longer any massage appointments available for you. I signed up for massages twice a month, but found that I was never in any pain or need of a massage when my appointment came up, but I was under contract to pay for them. After a few months I told the receptionist I wanted out of the contract, but she said I had to give them a one month notice to stop the charges to my credit card. So I signed the paperwork to get out of the scam, and then the b**** tried to scam me out of my remaining massages. I pointed out to her twice that she was shorting me, and I still ended up paying for one massage I didn’t get.
So, a few more details, the office is uncomfortable and cramped. Those 3 treatment tables in the back? It’s not very relaxing when you have another patient one foot away from you. No privacy whatsoever. And as I alluded before, they overbook. So if they schedule too many patients and there’s too many people waiting for the treatment tables, they skip them and act like you won’t notice. And about half the time you end up waiting 30 min in the waiting room for your adjustment, while there’s a prominently displayed sign that they will charge you if you’re late.
There used to be a total bonehead of a receptionist there when I started going to the office. It was totally ridiculous — she couldn’t schedule appointments correctly, screwed up the insurance billing, and was quite unprofessional when there were male patients around. I even heard her complain about a patient to Dr. Hifiai WHILE HE WAS IN THE SAME ROOM!!! I was pleased to hear that this dip was leaving — but later found out she was leaving to go to chiropractic school. Oh… my…God.
Oh, and the last, freakiest thing… when you fill out your new patient paperwork, you’ll find a sheet titled «Psychological Assessment.» The sheet is blank but the want you to sign the bottom. What the hell is that about?

Dr. Hifai has helped me tremendously with my migranes. I was always terrified of chiropractors, but she is so friendly, professional, and gentle. I do not allow anyone else to treat me, but her. Her staff is also very friendly, and welcoming. Although my migranes are better I still go in for adjustments. Her office has massage therapy, and acupuncture as well as therapy beds. I recommend her to everyone for almost anything.

Dr. Hifai is my first, and hopefully, only chiropractor. I started seeing her in 2005 – 2006 for my neck, shoulders, and back. At my first treatment I was so weak in my arms that I could not resist her pressure to push my arms down from a stretched out position. After ONE adjustment, she asked me to see if I could resist her, and I immediately had the strength to do so. THAT CONVINCED skeptical me that there is validity and results with chiropractic care. I have been a faithful patient ever since, and due to being consistent in getting maintenance adjustments, I have minor issues with what originally brought me through her door. She is knowledgeable, professional, focused, approachable, experienced, and pleasant. I had to move in late 2007 but made regular trips back to San Diego, which always included my Hifai treatments. I have done this all these years because I am that comfortable and confident with Dr. Hifai. I also regularly get massage therapy on my neck, shoulders, and back, as it helps keep my muscles from tightening. Her massage therapists are wonderful (as is all her staff). Obviously, I am a Hifai fan, and will travel miles and miles to keep her in my life.

I really like Dr. Hifai and her staff. I have had adjustments and massages here. Both are great! I signed up for a year and it really made a difference. I haven’t had any pain since. I still go in periodically for a «tune up». I am always treated kindly and like the therapy beds she provides. I have been to many chiropractors and she is the first one who has these available. It really loosens you up before the adjustment. I think the adjustment last longer because of the beds.

Came here to see Dr. Hifai because of back pains. When I first walked into the office, I was greeted by the front desk. Checked in and waited in the waiting room. My appt was at 1030 but was seen exactly at 1045. They are gonna point out if you are two minutes late, which I overhead them talk to one of their patients when she came in a couple mins late for her session.
When the doctor took me into her office, she went over what I was experiencing. She even did a muscle test on me and compared a «normal» muscle chart to my «actual» muscle chart which I thought was pretty helpful. She then had me do a water massage and heat pad massage before she could do work on my lower back. I thought the massages were pretty soothing and relaxing. After, Dr. Hifai did a few work on my back and neck. I could hear my body crack but it WAS NOT PAINFUL at all. If anything, it helped relieve the pain I was experiencing. She applied Biofreeze after she was done so that I don’t feel too much soreness the following day. I highly recommend her. She is a very nice person who cares about your body and wants to get you to do things without pain.
Thank you! I will be coming back!

I have been receiving chiropractic care for nearly 20 years. We came to this practice on referral. We found that Dr. Hifai is a kind, gentle chiropractor, but the lack of competency and customer service by the front office makes this practice not worth it. I notice there are similar comments about problems with the front office from other patients who have also left. Given this economy and that there are many great chiropractors in the area, it is important to have an efficient, exceptional front office that treats patients with respect and kindness at every visit. They are the first contact for every patient and often you are dealing with the front office far more than the chiropractor themselves. I have never found this front office to be accomodating, the young ladies have a lot of attitude and they make you feel like you are inconveniencing them. They are not an extension of Dr. Hifai at all and that is unfortunate.

Dr. Hifai is very thorough with her treatments and treats you like a person, not just another patient. The staff is also so incredibly nice. They are open on Saturdays, which is great for people needing weekend appointments. This office/​location offers Chiropractic Therapy, Acupuncture, and Massage. I’ve done the Chiropractic Therapy and Massage and both have done wonders for my healing after my auto accident. All of the masseuses are a blessing, but for what I needed (as far as technique), Meredith was/​is my favorite. I definitely recommend this office for your therapy!

Dr. Hifai is great. I fell down the stairs recently and was in great pain but she fixed me in 10 minutes so I could walk out like new.

I cant say enough nice things about this office. Dr. Hifai has treated my two daughters and me for over a year now. She is very caring and treats her patients with kindness. She’s really educated and knows what she’s talking about. I enjoy seeing her and recommend her to all my friends!

I missed one appointment and they charge me a $ 25 fee. The doctored cancelled on me twice before including one time when I was already to the office. I had made every appointment until then for over a year. Things come up, people forget. I gave the doctor lee way for her missed appointments I think they should have given me the same consideration. So I stopped being a client. So for a $ 25 fee they lost a couple thousand dollars annual business. Seems silly

I like coming to Dr. Hifia. She is very nice and professional. She made my first time very comfortable and thought me a few things about the human body. I now see here every other month and I walk out of there feeling brand new! The staff is also friendly and it seems that we all know each other.
The office is a little hidden, behind the Costco on Market St. The waiting area is small but you never wait for her, she has plenty rooms and they attend you right away. She also has massage and spa services and gives you good deals if your her patient.
If you do not live near this location she also has a second office in Rancho Bernardo somewhere.

I have my second appointment this afternoon. The treatment was nice. I’m looking for a permanent fix but doubt there is such a thing. Such a relaxing atmosphere. The treatment is high class. Complimentary Tea in the lounge and Candy surrounded by tempting delights for the body for sale that include massage oils, body lotion, and scented candles.
I went in for my first ever Chiropractor visit. Although my back isn’t permanently in tip-​top condition, I felt better after the first visit. First part of my visit I got a tension level assessment done on my back to determine the proper treatment for my case. Part of the visit included 2 kinds of relaxing and soothing massages to stretch out the spine and melt tension away. Doc «cracked my bones» and left me with a care package complete with gel samples and reading material on the importance of healthy living.